A BBC antiques dealer at the centre of a dispute with his former neighbours has been blocked from contacting them. Adrian Higham, who appears on the Bidding Room presented by Nigel Havers, has been made the subject of an interim stalking protection order by Brighton Magistrates' Court. It bans the 57-year-old Rotherfield resident from "communications, approaches, references or surveillance" involving his former neighbours while the "neighbour dispute" with "allegations on both sides" was "reviewed", the court heard on July 23.

The court notice said the order, under the Stalking Protection Act 2019, had been applied for "on the basis that you have carried out acts associated with stalking namely derogatory social media posts, aggressive behaviour, filming neighbour[s], that you pose a risk associated with stalking to another person and there is reasonable cause to believe the proposed order is necessary to protect another from such a risk." The order was granted until October 27. A case management hearing was scheduled at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on October 24, reports The Argus. The TV antiques dealer has since penned a social media saying he "wished he never got into TV" and has said he is stepping back from the limelight.

Higham is a regular on The Bidding Room for the past six series but was absent from the show after he suffered a back injury.

He spent 9 months in hospital during which time he spoke about the kindness of Moses Otunla a fellow dealer on the Bidding Room.

In a lengthy statement shared on his Instagram on Tuesday, Higham wrote: "Thank you for years of support. But i’m stepping away from Social Media. Totally!!!! And Television. It was a dream of mine to work on Tv and i did it. But wish i hadn’t. My life with Tara is the best thing that has ever happened to me. And the only thing important.

I have had a blast and met some amazing people and those close to me know where i am and can send me private messages . But i will never post anything. My life now becomes private!!! This i a choice i have made and nothing will change."

He continued: "Please don’t make any comments asking why or comments of why you think i have decided this.I will watch from a distance and you can message me and of course @tara.franklin_antiques will carry on posting.

Thank you all Lots of love Adi xxx #bye xxx."

Social media users flocked to the comment section as one person wrote: "You must do what is right for you. I have enjoyed following along. Wishing you all the very best."

Another commented: "So happy that The Bidding Room introduced me to you, your antiques and your lovely Tara. Love your relationship. Keep the faith. Hope you return to Insta one day!!"

A third added: "This is very sad, but fully appreciate you wanting your privacy. You will be missed. Have a good life with Tara..."